Sandia and Lockheed Martin

Delivering Exceptional Service in the National Interest for Nearly Two Decades and Counting

In 1949, President Harry S. Truman asked Western Electric -- a subsidiary of American Telephone and Telegraph (AT&T) -- to assume operation of Sandia National Laboratories. He said it was an "opportunity to render an exceptional service in the national interest,” and AT&T answered the call, quite literally. The impact of President Truman's critical “ask” of industry more than 60 years ago, continues to yield significant benefits for the U.S. to this day.

Sandia traces its roots back to World War II and the Manhattan Project, which led to the creation of the atomic bomb and ultimately brought an end to the war. Martin Marietta, a heritage Lockheed Martin company, took over lab management from AT&T in 1993 following a competition. Through its wholly owned subsidiary Sandia Corporation, Lockheed Martin has efficiently and effectively managed Sandia for the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration for nearly two decades.

In December 2011, DOE announced its intent to award a one-year contract extension to Sandia Corporation for management and operation of the lab, while a follow-on competition is pursued. With nearly twenty years of outstanding performance in managing Sandia, Lockheed Martin is eager to demonstrate it remains the very best choice to continue on in its current role for many years to come.

Together, Lockheed Martin and Sandia Corporation have transformed the laboratory from a single-mission engineering organization for nonnuclear components of nuclear weapons, to a multi-program laboratory engaging in research supporting a broad spectrum of national security issues.

Sandia’s legacy of research and engineering excellence, combined with Lockheed Martin’s expertise and best practices in technology development and lean business operations, have enabled the expansion of Sandia’s strategic deterrence and national security mission in ways President Truman could have never envisioned. From the development of super computers, to energy independence and breakthroughs in nanotechnology, or through key discoveries in the emerging field of cyber security; if it is critical to the security of the U.S., Sandia is likely engaged and often leading the way forward.

Lockheed Martin’s association with Sandia goes beyond a growing portfolio of national security related work. Technology Ventures Corporation (TVC), a non-profit 501(c)3 private foundation created as part of Lockheed Martin’s original proposal to manage Sandia, has produced real economic impact and benefit in the area of commercialization through transitioning applicable lab technologies to the private sector. Since 1993, thanks to the efforts of TVC, 117 companies have been formed and more than 13,500 jobs created. TVC provides a wealth of services to entrepreneurs as they develop business plans to attract equity investors, critical to successful start up and launch of new businesses.

Based on a strong record of scientific achievement, and a commitment to Sandia’s continued evolution in the national interest, Lockheed Martin looks forward to retaining its critical management and oversight role of Sandia well into the future.